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Police, pharmacies, clinics accepting unwanted prescriptions

Police, pharmacies, clinics accepting unwanted prescriptions

Prescriptions contribute to accidental poisonings, Dane County's largest injury-related cause of death  

Police, pharmacies and clinics are drawing awareness to National Prescription Take Back Day, happening Friday and Saturday at several locations.

The goal of the collection day is to reduce the number of expired, unused and unwanted medicine.

Poisoning deaths are more common than automobile deaths in Dane County. Unused prescriptions contribute to accidental poisonings, the number one cause of injury-related death, according to the Middleton Police Department.

A statement by Middleton police emphasized pain medications as an especially dangerous prescription group.

Dane County Sheriff's Office announces online protection event

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office will offer an internet safety presentation on protecting children to interested parents March 20.

According to a statement, the free event will focus on issues surrounding Facebook, cyber bulling and online predators.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shows one in three teens have experienced online harassment, one of several statistics the statement highlighted.

The presentation will take place at the Westport Meeting Room at 5387 Mary Lake Rd. at 6 p.m.

Man arrested on suspicion of 5th OWI

Man arrested on suspicion of 5th OWI

A Madison man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of fifth-offense operating while intoxicated, according to police.

A Madison police officer said a vehicle was seen weaving in and out of traffic on Packers Avenue near Northpoint Drive at about 1:50 a.m.

The driver, Donald Trice, 55, was arrested for fifth-offense operating while intoxicated.

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Thieves try to make off with speakers in front of owner

Police said three men attempted to rob a couple Saturday near an apartment building on Troy Drive.

According to the report, a Madison woman, 23, was walking with her boyfriend, a 34-year-old Madison man, in an apartment building parking lot at about 6 p.m. The couple told police they saw three men hurry past them carrying speakers from the woman's car.

The thieves went into an apartment but the man called them back out, police said.

The victim told police he ran away because one of the thieves claimed to have a gun and demanded cash.

Police said the three thieves are black men.

The report noted one of the thieves had a dark complexion, short hair, is about 5 feet 8 inches tall weighing 150 pounds and wore a green hooded sweatshirt and a winter mask over his nose and mouth.

County joins efforts to help youth vulnerable to sex trafficking

Funds, coordination key topics in conversation on ending the crime    

Dane County is taking steps to raise awareness on the issue of human sex trafficking.

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said Thursday that the county is focused on coordinated education efforts and resources for homeless and runaway youth.

The 2013 county budget includes $30,000 to replace recently eliminated federal funds that support outreach services to homeless and runaway youth, a group that youth advocates cautioned are susceptible to trafficking.

"At the very base, this problem exists because there's a demand for people to buy sex," Parisi said. "People need to realize if they're going to go out and purchase someone's body to use, that is not a victimless crime."

60 speeders caught in less than 4 hours on East Washington

Madison police said they stopped 60 vehicles for speeding during a three and a half hour special enforcement in a block on East Washington Avenue Tuesday.

The special enforcement was conducted in a 55 mph zone in the 5200-5300 block of East Washington Avenue between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Two different drivers were cited for going 84 mph, which would come with a penalty of six demerit points and a $164 fine if convicted.

Apart from speeding, numerous drivers were also cited for not having a driver?s license, having a suspended registration or driver?s license or failing to comply with insurance requirements.

Madison police looking for traffic violations

Madison police looking for traffic violations

 

Madison police will be paying special attention to traffic enforcement in specific areas of the city this week.

Special patrols will be placed in the following areas:

Tuesday at 4900 E. Washington Ave. (Speed enforcement - 55 mph zone) 
Wednesday at 1800 Fish Hatchery Rd. (Speed enforcement - 30 mph zone) 
Thursday at 4600 Commercial Ave. (Speed enforcement 35 mph zone)

Madison police said they rely on the cooperation of the public to be aware of and to follow all traffic laws, whether as a pedestrian, bicyclist or motorist.

Motorists are reminded to drive safely and to buckle seatbelts.